LOS ANGELES – As they put on their suits and adjusted their ties deep inside Staples Center on Friday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers players and coaches tried to exude a calmness. It was just another game, just December, just the end of a long road trip in the midst of a long season of ups-and-downs.

It was a facade. Inside they were pounding their chests and patting their backs, having not only beaten the Los Angeles Lakers, 102-87, in the featured Christmas Day game,